Sea Of Memories
Sea of Memories began as a self portrait in March 2024. I had returned from my 60th birthday road trip around the southern coast of Britain with my best friend. Some of that two month period was used to assess what I had achieved in the previous ten years since becoming an artist, as well as what I needed to change to continue growing.
However what wasn’t in the ‘plan’ was the possibility of starting a new relationship, so when my friend put it on the agenda it began something of a chain reaction for me. That reaction involved lots of memories relating to the death of my wife ten years previously, as well as disturbing my ‘inner pond’, which had been relatively calm in the last year.
I knew I had the capacity to build a dam to hold back the reaction but if I wanted the relationship I was going to have to allow those memories and feelings out and find their way through me and process them as they surfaced. A conversation with my therapist not long after confirmed I was going to open myself to that flood with her support.
The painting represents that sea of feelings and memories, some dark and deep. others small, light and insignificant. The silver leaf memories rising through my ocean of consciousness. Some dispersed quietly, others caused me distress and disruption.
I faced them in the sanctuary of my studio. I started the painting on the 10th March and finished it 43 layers later on 28th October 2025.
This is the painting that fuelled the early impetus for writing my memoir….not yet complete.
My wife used to tell me I should paint but I never did in her lifetime, I just enjoyed watching her paint, lost in the act. Now I have someone in my life who enjoys watching me paint and that is starting to feel ok.
Mixed media on wood panel
62 x 86 cm
£420
Prints unavailable
